Ryan Preece confronts Corey LaJoie after incident at Pocono, takes shot at him
If you love fireworks, then NASCAR‘s Cup Series race from Pocono might be up your alley. Along with the excitement between Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, there were also words exchanged between Ryan Preece and Corey LaJoie after the HighPoint.com 400 on Sunday.
LaJoie got into Preece near the end of the race, resulting in the event ending under caution. Hamlin went on the claim the checkered flag while Preece went on to confront LaJoie.
Preece ran over to LaJoie’s car at the conclusion of the race, going off on a profanity-laced tirade. He also appeared to take a shot or two while LaJoie was still in the car.
NASCAR posted the exchange on multiple social media platforms:
That’s some pretty intense stuff. But these races are always highly competitive, and sometimes drivers reach a boiling point. Clearly, Preece reached his near the end of Sunday’s race.
Preece got tagged with a DNF while LaJoie completed the race in 27th. So, both drivers have had better days on the track.
The post-race exchange between Preece and LaJoie was only part of the excitement to come out of Pocono Raceway on Sunday.
Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson get into it at Pocono
Sometimes, even friends fail to see eye to eye on the racetrack. That’s exactly what happened at Pocono on Sunday when it comes to Hamlin and Larson.
Near the end of the race, Hamlin pushed Larson up the track in a turn. With nowhere to maneuver, Larson hit the wall. Because of the move, Hamlin was showered with boos by angry NASCAR fans, despite winning his 50th career race.
After the race, Hamlin was asked if Larson had a right to be upset over that move.
“Well, both guys wrecked themselves,” Hamlin said. “There was a lane — he missed the corner, first. And, evidently, he didn’t have his right-side tires clean and when he gassed up, he just kept going again.
“You have an option in those positions to either hold it wide open and hit the fence or lift and race it out.”
Larson didn’t exactly have the same point of view.
“Yeah, we’re friends. Yes, this makes things s***** and awkward, but, whatever. He’s always right,” Larson said. “All the buddies know, Denny’s always right. So, I’m sure he was in the right there, as well. But, it is what it is. I’m not gonna let it tarnish a friendship on the track, but I am pissed.
“I feel like I should be pissed.”
Maybe it wasn’t the cleanest NASCAR race we’ve ever seen, but it certainly provided plenty of entertainment and excitement.